Isabel

Events

Date of Birth: unknown.

Place of Birth: unknown.

Date of Death: unknown..

Place of Death: unknown.

Relationships

Father: unknown.

Mother: unknown.

See the Commentary section.

Cousin: Isabel Shatton.

In 1439, Isabel is described as a cousin of the Isabel Shatton who married John Lathbury. See the Evidence section below.

Spouse: Thomas de Brumpton.

This relationship is given by the HoP. See the Commentary section.

Spouse: Sir Robert Francis. Married by Easter 1392.

This relationship is given by the HoP. See the Commentary section.

Children:

(Complete source citations for facts about the children on this page are currently outside of the scope of this project.)

Robert Francis married Anne Clinton.

Thomas Francis.

John Francis.

Isabel Francis married Sir Gervase Clifton.

Joan Francis married Thomas Harcourt of Bosworth.

Ann Francis married Robert Stanton.

Alice Francis married Richard Peyton of Chesterton.

Mary Francis married Nicholas Strelley.

Isabel Francis married Robert Coney of Weston Coyney.

Joyce Francis married Thomas Giffard of Chillingham.

Cecily Francis married Thomas de Knightley alias Charlton.

Elizabeth Francis married William Peyto.

Commentary

On Isabel’s identity and marriages:

Bridgeman (1883, p. 15 fn) identifies several Isabels:

[1] the sister of Adam Peshale on whom Adam settled one-fifth of the manor of Weston in 1373.

[2] the wife of Thomas de Brumpton, named in Thomas’s 1382 inquisition post mortem.

[3] the wife of Thomas Gech of Newport, named in several documents in the 1590s.

[4] the wife of Sir Robert Frauncis.

Bridgeman (1899, p. 153 fn) revises this:

[1] and [3] are confirmed to be identical based on a petition, probably from 1377, in which “Thomas Goch” is named as a brother in law of Adam Peshale. But this Isabel [1,3] cannot be identical with either of the other Isabels:

Thomas Brumpton died in 1382. Isabel [3] is attested in 1361, 1377, and the 1390s as the husband of Thomas Goch, so Isabel [1,3] cannot be identical with Isabel [2].

Isabel [4] is attested as the husband of Robert Francis in 1392 and Isabel [3] is attested as the husband of Thomas Goch both before and after this, so Isabel [1,3] cannot be identical with Isabel [4].

Bridgeman (1899) still assumes that [2] and [4] are identical.

The manor of Longford, held by Isabel [2] and by Isabel [4] for life, reverted to Thomas Newport, a descendant of Thomas Gech, but Bridgeman (1899) suggests that this was because the Newports had bought it.

I suppose this 1392 document is related to this:

Licence, for 8 marks paid to the king by Robert Fraunceys, knight, and Isabel, his wife, for Ellis de Brompton, clerk, to enfeoff Thomas Gech and Isabel, his wife, and Thomas, his son, of the manor of Longeford, which is held in chief, and for the feoffees, after seisin had, to grant it to the said Robert and Isabel, for the life of Isabel.

Since Thomas de Brumpton’s widow Isabel had a life interest in Longford, this document makes sense if Isabel had remarried Robert Francis. (Ellis de Brompton, Thomas de Brumpton’s uncle, had the remainder of the manor of Longford after Isabel’s death.)

Still unexplained, however, is a £100 donation to the prioress and convent of Black Nuns of Brewode made by Thomas Gech in 1394 for the nuns to pray for the souls of Thomas de Brumpton and his ancestors and benefactors. Ellis died in about 1394, so it may be somehow connected to that.

After Isabel [4]’s death, a grandson of Thomas de Brumpton’s sister attempted to claim the manor. I am not sure why he would have had a stronger claim than Isabel’s children, but in any case it was not successful although he got some money.

In all, it seems likely that Isabel was the widow of Thomas de Brumpton.

Evidence

An inquisition ad quod damnum (National Archives catalogue C 143/384/8):

48 Edward III [1374]

John de Brumpton, knight, to grant the manor of Longford to Thomas his son, Isabel wife of the said Thomas, and the heirs of their bodies, with remainder to the grantor and his heirs. Salop.

The 1377 petition (National Archives catalogue SC 8/146/7282). “Thomas Goch, brother in law of Adam de Peshale”.

An indenture of 1380 (National Archives catalogue D938/740):

1. Thomas Gech

2. Elias de Brumpton, parson of church of Longeford

Indenture of lease for 20 years of a tenement and curtilage in vill of NEUPORT, formerly John Goft's, between tenement of Roger Rondulf and that formerly of John Glonbard, extending from the high street (ab alta strata) of said vill to the rivulet of Northbrom.

Rent 5s. at Annunciation and Michaelmas in equal portions. Provision for re-entry if rent one quarter in arrears. Repairs and maintenance by lessee.

Witnesses Roger Rondulf, William Long, John de Chilynton, John Pastour, John Glover and others.

Seal (slightly damaged), red wax on tag: round: crest (lion rampant on shield): lett: S'[.]

DE BRYMPTON

Thomas’s inquisition post mortem (CIPM v. 15 no. 689, 690):

Thomas de Brumpton

Writ: 24 September, 6 Richard II

Salop. Inq. taken at Neuport, 3 October, 6 Richard II.

He held the under-mentioned manor to him and Isabel, his wife, who is still living, and the heirs of their bodies, by gift of John de Brumpton, knight, made with the king’s licence.

Longeford. The manor, held of the king in chief by knight’s service.

He died on 13 September last. Thomas his son, aged 2 years, is his heir.

Stafford. Inq. taken at Stafford, 4 October, 6 Richard II.

He held the under-mentioned manor to him and Isabel, his wife, who is still living, and the heirs of their bodies.

Chirche Eyton. The manor, held of Hugh, earl of Stafford, by knight’s service.

Date of death and heir as above.

from an inquisition of knights’ fees shortly after (Bridgeman p. 16):

An inquisition of Knights' fees taken about this time represents the heirs of John Bruinton as holding two fees in Eyton and Horselow.

from the Calendar of Patent Rolls:

1392.

May 11. Westminster.

Presentations to the church at Longford juxta Newport (Eyton 8:114):

…

William de Brumpton, Clerk, was admitted to the Church of Longford juxta Newport at presentation of Dame Isabella, Relict of Sir John de Brumpton. On September 19, 1357, this Rector exchanged preferments with Elias de Brompton, late Rector of Neuwenham (Linc. Dioc.). Elias died in 1394-5, and on April 25, 1395, John Hopton called Bickedon, Priest, was instituted at presentation of Sir Robert Franceys, knight, and his wife Isabel. On Hopton’s death, and on July 8, 1432, Robert Morworth, Priest, was instituted at presentation of Isabel, Relict of Robert Franceys….

from the Plea Rolls (Wrottesley):

p. 72

Staffordshire 7 Hen. V [1419-20]

Isabella, late wife of Robert Fraunceys, knight, executrix of the will of Robert, sued John Robyns, of Ricardescote, for a debt of 40s. John did not appear, and the Sheriff was ordered to arrest and produce him on the above date. m. 294, dorso.

p. 97

Staffordshire 2 Hen. VI [1423]

Reginald Brodoke, of Adbaston, sued in person Isabella, late wife of Robert Fraunceys, knight, of Dokesey, wedowe, and William Smyth, of Pencrich, for abducting from Routon, Isabella, daughter and heir of Richard Lichefeld, who was under age, and whose marriage belonged to him. The defendants did not appear, and the Sheriff was ordered to distrain and to produce them on the Octaves of St. Michael and to make diligent enquiry respecting the heir. A postscript shows that on the above date the Sheriff made no return to the writ, and he was ordered to distrain and produce the defendants on the Octaves of St. Hillary.

p. 102

Staffordshire 2 Hen. VI [1423]

The Sheriff had been ordered to distrain Anne, late wife of Robert Halughton, and Isabella, late wife of Robert Fraunceys, knight, and produce them at this term to acknowledge the right which the said Anne claimed in a moiety of the manor of Heghe Offeleye, and the right which the said Isabella claimed in the manor of Dokeseye, and in two parts of the moiety of the manor of Heghe Offeleye, and 20 acres of land and 12d. of rent in the vill of Braddeley, which Nicholas Rykhill and Isabella, his wife, had granted by a Fine, levied in 10 H. V, to Henry Somer, Roger Flore, and others ; and they did not appear, and Henry and Roger and the others appeared in person, and stated that ths said Anne and Isabella had attorned to them in the country (in patria). The Fine was therefore engrossed.

pp. 103-4

Derbyshire 3 H. VI [1424]

Isabella, late wife of Robert Fraunceys, knight, sued Roger Wolley, of Derby, draper, and Thomas del Halle, of Overtoil, gentilman, for the wardship of the land and heir of John de Irelond, of Herteshorne. And she stated that the said John had held of her, as of her manor of Fornewerk, the manor of Herteshorne by the service of a knight's fee, and had died in her homage, so that the custody of the manor and of William, son and heir of John de Irelond, belonged to her.

The defendants denied that John de Irelond had held the manor as stated by Isabella, and appealed to a jury, which was to be summoned for the Octaves of the Purification.

A postscript states that the suit was moved by writ of nisi prius to be heard at Derby on the first Wednesday in Lent, when a jury returned a verdict in favour of Isabella; and they stated that William, the heir of John, was 18 years of age and was married, and they estimated the damage to Isabella, by the loss of the marriage, at 40 marks, and tho value of the manor of Herteshorne for a year and a half at 40s., and they assessed her costs at 10 marks. It was therefore considered that Isabella should recover the custody of the manor and of the heir, and £35 6s. 8d. damages.

p. 109

Derbyshire. 4 H. VI [1425]

John Merbury, armiger, and Agnes, his wife, sued Isabella, late wife of Robert Fraunceys, knight, of Fornewark, in co. Derby, wydowe, Thomas Hall, of Overton Saucy, in co. Leycester, fraunkelyn, and Roger Wolley, of Derby, draper, for forcibly ejecting them from the custody of the land and heir of John Ireland, of Herteshome, which belonged to them, inasmuch as John Ireland had held his land of them by military service. The defendants did not appear, and the Sheriff was ordered to distrain and produce them on the Quindene of Easter,

p. 112.

Derbyshire. 4 H. VI [1425]

In the suit of John Merbury, armiger, and Agnes, his wife, against Isabella, late wife of Robert Fraunceys, knight, Thomas Hall, of Overton Saucy, and Roger Wolley, for the abduction of William, son and heir of John Ireland, of Herteshorne, who was under age, the parties appeared ; and the plaintiffs stated that the marriage of the heir belonged to them, because John Ireland, the father, held of them, as of their manor of Newebolt Verdou 6 messuages, 7 carucates of land, 80 acres of wood, and 100s. of rent in Herteshorne, in co. Derby, by the service of one-fourth of a knight's fee and a rent of 3s., and had died in their homage. And they had had peaceable seisin of the heir from the 12th June, 10 H. V, until the 13th September following, when the defendants had taken him by force from Hemyngton, and for which they claimed £100 as damages. The defendants stated that John Ireland had been seised of the manor of Herteshorne, of which the lands, etc., named by the plaintiffs were a parcel, which was held of Isabella as of her manor of Fornemark, and had granted it to Antony Howeby, Roger Wolley, and to others named ; and John Ireland afterwards died, and the defendant Roger had married Agnes, formerly the wife of John, and the mother of the heir, and the said Roger and Agnes had taken possession of the heir for the purpose of maintenance (causa nutriture) as was lawful, and they denied that John Ireland had died in the homage of the plaintiffs. Both parties appealed to a jury, which was to be summoned for the Quiiidene of St. Michael. A postscript shows that after several adjournments a jury found in favour of the plaintiffs in 6 H. VI.

A fine

On the Octaves of Holy Trinity. 10 Hen. V. [1422]

And afterwards recorded on the Octaves of St. Michael. 3 Hen. VI. [1424]

Between Henry Somer, Roger Flore, Thomas Rolf, Richard Alred, William Aylemere, and John Harpur, complainants, and Nicholas Rikhull, and Isabel his wife, deforciants of the manors of Halughton, Hegheoffeleye (High Offley), and Dokeseye, and eighty-four acres of land, twenty-six acres of meadow, two acres of wood, eight acres of heath, and 24s. 4d. of rent in Stafford, Selkemore, Gretwode, Bradeley, Castel-next-Stafford, and Wolaston.

Nicholas and Isabel acknowledged the right of the complainants, and surrendered to them in Court the manor of Halughton and a third of the moiety of the manor of Hegheoffeleye, and they likewise granted that a moiety of the manor of Hegheoffeleye, which Anne, formerly wife of Robert de Haloghton, held in dower, and also that the manor of Dokeseye, two parts of a moiety of the manor of Hegheoffeleye, twenty acres of land, and 12d. of rent in Bradeleye, part of the said tenements, which Isabel, formerly wife of Robert Fraunceys, Knight, held for life of the inheritance of the said Isabel, wife of Nicholas, on the day on which this agreement was made, and which, after the decease of Anne and Isabel, ought to revert to Nicholas and Isabel, and to the heirs of Isabel, may remain to the complainants and heirs of John Harpur, and for this grant the complainants gave 500 marks of silver.

from the National Archives catalogue(E 199/44/42):

Warwickshire and Leicestershire: Account of Isabella, widow and executrix of Robert Fraunceys, Kt., for issues of Manor of Staunton Harrold after death of John de Staunton.

from Feudal Aids (v. 4 p. 248):

1428

Salop

Hundredum de Bradford

De Elizabetha Fraunceys pro j. f. in Longeford quondam Johannis de Bruynton, et tenetur de rege… vj.s. iiij.d.

A 1438 fine (Bridgeman p. 16):

By final concord at Westminster in the quindene of St. John the Baptist, 16 Henry VI. (1438), between Humphrey Earl of Stafford, complainant, and John Stokys de Brumpton, deforciant, of the manor of Eyton-juxta-Gnoweshalle, with the appurtenances,and the advowson of the Church of the same manor, which Isabel who had been the wife of Thomas de Brumpton, Esq., held at the time of her death, the said John acknowledged the said manor, with the appurtenances and advowson of the Church, to be the right of the said Earl, and conceded for himself and his heirs that the said manor, &c., which Isabel had held for the term of her life of the inheritance of the said John, should remain to the said Earl and his heirs, to be held of the chief lords of the fee by the accustomed services for ever; and the said John and his heirs will warrant to the said Earl and his heirs the said manor, &c., against all men for eve ; and for this recognizance, concession, warrant, fine and concord, the said Earl gave to the said John 300 marks of silver.

A 1439 indenture (National Archives catalogue D5236/10/11):

Indenture between Isabell formerly wife of Robert Fraunceys knight and Robert her son

To John Lathebury esquire

That John will marry Isabell Shatton cousin to Isabell Fraunceys and Robert and be endowed with property in Neuton Sulne to value of £10 yearly; that John son and heir of John Lathebury shall marry Katherine daughter of Isabell Shatton and be endowed with property in Egynton to the value of 10 marks [£3 6s 8d]; Isabell Fraunceys and Robert to pay John Lathebury senior £40; John Lathebury junior to marry another daughter of Isabell Shatton if Katherine dies before age 14, Katherine to marry another son of John Lathebury senior if John junior dies before age 14

Dated 1 Apr 17 Hen VI [1439]

D5236/6/18

Appointment by Henry Bradburn' esquire and William Lathbury of Robert Fraunceys esquire as attorney to deliver seisin in lands in Egynton' and Hatton to John Lathbury junior and Katerina daughter of Isabella Shatton

Dated 16 Apr 17 Hen VI

from the Calendar of Close Rolls:

1445. [Membrane 8d.]

Thomas Neuport esquire to whom the reversion pertains, son and heir of Thomas Neuport son and heir of Thomas Geche, to Robert Makworde rector of Longforde, Thomas Sawer rector of Eyton, Richard Bell and William Jowkyns chaplains, their heirs and assigns. Acknowledgement that by demise of Isabel late the wife of Robert Fraunceys knight they are now seised of the manor and advowson of Longforde, which Thomas Geche, Thomas his son and Isabel wife of Thomas Geche by charter indented did demise to the said Robert Fraunceys and Isabel for her life, with reversion to those grantors and to the heirs of Thomas Geche; and quitclaim with warranty thereof. Witnesses: Richard Peshale of Chetwynde, John Chetwynde of Aston, Humphrey Cotus of Wodecote esquires, Richard Colet of Neuport, Philip Fitz John. Dated 18 April 23 Henry VI.

Memorandum of acknowledgement, 30 May.

G.T.O. Bridgeman’s footnote on Isabel (1883, p. 15):

Isabel, the wife of Thomas de Brumpton, was the daughter of Adam (?) de Peshale, and sister of Sir Adam de Peshale (I.) of Weston, Knight. She was married secondly to Thomas Gech de Newport, of High Ercall in Shropshire, Esq., and thirdly to Sir Robert Fraunceys, Knight. In 1394, Petronilla, Prioress of the Black Nuns of Brewode, and the convent there, acknowledge the receipt of £100, by the hands of Thomas Gech, to pray for the souls of Thomas de Brumpton, formerly lord of Eyton, and the souls of all his ancestors ; dated in their chapel (at Brewode) on Tuesday in the Feast of St. Michael the Archangel, 18 Ric. II. (Newport Evidences). It will have been through this second marriage of the Lady Isabel that the Newports had to do with the manor of Longford. Among Blakeway's extracts from the Newport deeds in the Bodleian Library, is a memorandum (without date) of Thomas Newport, Esq., that a fine had been levied to Humfrey de Halughton, Esq., Master Nicholas de Peshale, Master Thomas Newport, and Roger Conote, Clerks, and the heirs of the said Roger, of the manor of Ercalwe (High Ercall), which manor they have of the feoffment of the said Thomas Newport, Esq., as also the reversions of the manors of Longford, in the county of Salop, and Chirche Eyton, in the county of Stafford, which are held by Sir Robert Fraunceys, Knight, and Isabel his wife, for the term of the life of the said Isabel, and a fifth part of the manor of Weston under the Lezord, in the county of Stafford, which Sir Adam de Peshale holds for the term of his life, and which, after the deaths of the said Isabel and Adam, should remain to the said Thomas Newport, Esq., and his heirs. The said Thomas de Newport, whom I take to have been the son of Thomas Gech de Newport and Isabel de Peshale, succeeded to the manor of Ercall which had been the possession of his father. That fifth part of the manor of Weston, however, which had been settled by Adam de Peshale (I.), by deed of 3rd November, 1373, on his sister Isabel and the heirs of her body in default of his own bodily issue, passed to his own son Adam de Peshale (the second and last lord of Weston of that name) and his issue. With respect to the manors of Longford and Church Eaton, after the death of Isabel, who held them for term of her life, a claimant appeared in the person of John Stokes of Brimpton, the cousin and heir of Isabel's first husband Thomas de Brumpton, who seems to have met with indifferent success. I imagine that the Newports succeeded in making good their title to Longford, probably by some compromise with the more direct heir; for in 4 Edward IV. (1464-5) William Newport, Esq., Lord of Longeford near Newport, demises to Richard Wright the site of his manor of Longford, with all his demesne lands there, &c., at an annual rent of six marks, the said Richard to perform the office of bailiff of the manor and to collect the rents. In witness whereof the seal of John Harecourt, Esq., the seneschal there, is appended; and the deed is further attested by Edward Paternoster and William Collewiche, Esquires ("Newport Evidences") . The right of John Stokes to the manor of Church Eaton was by him disposed of, as we shall see, to the Earl of Stafford.

The Bridgemans revised view is in a footnote here.

References

Bridgeman, G.T.O. “The History of the Parish of Church Eaton and its members, Wood Eaton, Orslow, High Onn, Little Onn, Shushions, and Marston” in Collections for a History of Staffordshire v. 4 p. 2. (1883)

Bridgeman, George T.O., Bridgeman, Ernest R.O., and Charles G. O. Bridgeman. “History of the Manor and Parish of Weston-under-Lizard, in the County of Stafford” in Collections for a History of Staffordshire (William Salt Archaeological Society, Volume XX [Volume II, New Series], 1899)

Calendars of Inquisitions Post Mortem (Public Record Office, generally available online at British History Online, HathiTrust, the Internet Archive, or Mapping the Medieval Countryside).

Eyton, Robert William. Antiquities of Shropshire v. 8 (1859).

“Francis, Sir Robert (d. 1419/20), of Foremark, Derbys.” in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1386-1421 (1993).

Wrottesley, George. “Extracts from the Plea Rolls” in Collections for a History of Staffordshire v. 17. (1896)